37 




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attle of (iroton Hcidits 



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The Slormiiii* of I'ort driswold. 




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NAKKA I IVi-. Ol KUl'US A VERY, 

FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT. 



I laiulsoiiu'ly Illustrated by I-iill-Pajre Kngravinj^^s. 






THE 



Battle of Groton Heights 



A STORY OF THE 



STORMING OF FORT GRISWOLD, 



AND THE 



BURNING OF NEW LONDON, 



ON THE 



SIXTH OF SEPTEMBER, 1781. 



BY REV. N. H. BURNHAIVl. 



CONTAINING ALSO THE 



NARRATIVE OF RUFUS AVERY, 

FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT. 



NEW LONDON, CONN.: 

E. E. Darrow, Printer and Book Binder. 

1S94. 






•(^^£8 1 



J. 



fji-'rj^j 



The Groton Monument. 



MOVED by the patriotic sentiments which the memory of 
such a day in our national history as September 6th, 1781, 
is calculated to arouse, "a number of gentlemen in Groton, 
in the year 1826, organized an association for the purpose of erect- 
ing a monument." This, simple memorial shaft is composed of 
granite quarried from the same soil which those to whom it is 
dedicated, defended with their lives. The corner stone was laid 
September 6th, 1826, and the monument was dedicated September 
6th, 1830, in a manner befitting the place and the occasion. 

During the centennial year of 1881, the height, originally one 
hundred and twenty-seven feet, was extended, so that the column 
now measures one hundred and thirty-five feet. Other important 
improvements were also made. The monument is in form an obe- 
lisk, twenty-two feet square at base of the shaft, and eight and one- 
half feet at the base of the pyramidion, restmg on a die twenty-four 
feet square and this again on a base twenty-six feet square. The 
top is reached by a circular stairway of one hundred and sixty-six 
steps, and is two hundred and sixty-five feet above the waters of 
the Thames. From the apex a picture of unrivaled beauty presents 
itself, covering the opposite bank of the river, the hills to the west 
of Montville, and extending far out over the waters of Long Island 
Sound, as well as Fishers Island Sound and Fishers Island. 

The original marble slab inserted in the west wall of the die 
contained the following inscription : 

This Monument 

Was erected under the patronage of the State of Connecticut, A. D. 1S30, 

and in the 55th year of the Independence of the U. S. A. 

In Memory of the Brave Patriots 

who fell in the massacre at Fort Griswold near this spot 

on the 6th of September, A. D. 1781, 

when the British under the command of 

the traitor Benedict Arnold, 

burnt the towns' of New London & Groton, and spread 

desolation and woe throughout this region. 



The Groton Monument. 



The visitor to the scenes of Fort Griswold should not fail to 
note the well, which is the same existing at the time of the massacre, 
and to which dying men " in fevered anguish wistfully turned and 
vainly craved of the implacable Briton its cooling draught." 

On the left of the entrance and enclosed by an iron fence is a 
granite slab marking the spot where Colonel Ledyard fell, and bear- 
the inscription : 



ON THIS SPOT 

COL. WILLIAM LEDYARD 

FELL BY HIS OWN SWORD IN THE HANDS 

OF A BRITISH OFFICER TO WHOM HE HAD 

SURRENDERED, IN THE MASSACRE OF 

FORT GRISWOLD, SEPT. 6, I781. 



I 



In the year 1893, the Groton Monument Association applied to 
the State Legislature for an appropriation of five thousand dollars, 
which was promptly granted. This appropriation was expended in 
needed repairs upon the monument and in extensive improvements 
on the adjacent grounds. A panel of white bronze bearing the same 
inscription as the former marble slab, which had become cracked 
and otherwise defaced, was inserted in the same place in the monu- 
ment as that occupied by the one removed. The above repairs were 
completed in the early part of 1894. 

Recently the Anna Warner Bailey Chapter of the Daughters of 
the American Revolution, through their regent, applied for the use 
of the stone house adjoining the monument, as a repository for 
such revolutionary relics and mementos as are now, or shall here- 
after come into their possession, and for other purposes. 

Thus the Groton Monument stands to-day as a shrine, to which 
all who dwell beneath its shadow may often turn, or to which they 
may welcome those who, as pilgrims, shall visit it to learn or to 
recall the cherished names and mighty deeds of those brave men, 
to whom it has been erected as a -constant and enduring memorfal. 



The Battle of Groton Heights. 



THE Battle of Groton Heights, fought September 6th, 1781, 
well deserves to be ranked with the contests at Lexington 
and Bunker Hill — those famous preludes to Saratoga and 
Yorktown. In this conflict, as in those, the heroic patriot- 
ism of our Revolutionary sires was displayed with a simple and 
touching grandeur that must ever awaken in the heart of every true 
American feelings of the deepest gratitude and admiration. 

To outward seeming the battle was a defeat. In reality it was 
a glorious victory, whose every incident is worthy of being treasured 
up among the precious memorials of those revolutionary days. A 
small band of patriotic warriors defending their own and the liber- 
ties of thousands, yet unborn, against the forces of tyranny and 
oppression, such was the contest upon which the sun looked down 
on that memorable September day, more than a hundred years ago. 
While, on the other hand, the foes of liberty strove with an equally 
clear and determined purpose. 

Sir Henry Clinton, greatly chagrined at the manner in which he 
had been outwitted by General Washington, determined to retrieve 
his error by striking a decisive blow that should at once and forever 
deliver the high seas from the hated presence and depredations of 
those bold and adventurous American privateers, whose daring and 
successful exploits had so grievously injured British commerce, and 
so exasperatingly insulted and persistently defied British pride and 
British power. And, since from its harbor there had gone forth 
multitudes of these determined and successful opponents of the 
royal cause, upon their return had found a ready mart for their 
prizes and spoil among its townspeople, it was determined to make 
a bold and resolute attack upon New London. And thus, at the 
same time, to satisfy the desire for revenge and the thirst for plun- 
der, a plunder most rich. " The cargo of the merchant ship Hannah 
alone being valued at four hundred thousand dollars." 

For this expedition great preparations were made and the com- 
mand of it shrewdly given to that Judas of the Revolution, Benedict 



6 The Battle of Groton Heights. 

Arnold, who, in September 1780, had "deserted the American cause 
and had been received into the British service with the rank of 
Brigadier General." 

It was the fleet of thirty-two sail, bearing the troops to their 
destination, that Sergeant Rufus Avery discovered from his lofty 
station in Fort Griswold at the earliest dawn of that renowned 
September morning. Instantly informing his superior officer, Capt. 
William Latham, of the fact, the latter at once perceived the 
urgency of the case and sent a messenger immediately to Col. Wil- 
liam Ledyard, under whose command Forts Griswold and Trumbull 
and the adjacent harbor then were. To this summons Col. Ledyard 
quickly responded. On embarking to cross from New London to 
Fort Griswold he remarked to friends gathered around him, " If I 
have this day to lose either life or honor, you who know me best 
know which it will be." On his arrival he "ordered," says Sergeant 
Avery, "two large guns to be loaded with heavy charges of good 
powder, etc." Of one of these Capt. Latham tpok charge and the 
worthy Sergeant of the other, directing it "so as to give a 'larum' 
to the country in the best manner that it could be done." "Two 
guns," he tells us, "was the regular 'larum,' but the enemy under- 
stood that and they discharged a third gun, similar to ours and 
timed it alike, which broke our 'larum,' which discouraged our 
troops from coming to our assistance." 

A few hours later began that conflict destined to put the con- 
stancy and valor of both soldiers and citizens to a test as terrible as 
it was severe. The invading army disembarked on either side of 
the river. Those upon the west shore being under the immediate 
command of General Arnold, and proceeding on their march with 
no other evidence of an enemy's presence than the salute "with one 
volley" from the guns of the battery by Capt. Shapley and his brave 
men from Fort Trumbull. The latter he then abandoned, after 
spiking its guns, and proceeded to embark his forces in three boats, 
one of which was taken by the enemy. Seven of his men were also 
wounded before they succeeded in gaining the kindly protection of 
Fort Griswold on the opposite shore. No other course was left to 
the patriot Captain, since Fort Trumbull was at best only "a water 
battery," entirely unable to resist the attack of an opposing military 
force. 

In the meantime another portion of the British troops had 
effected a landing under their commander, Col. Eyre, upon the 
eastern shore, at Groton Point. After a somewhat retarded march 




COLONEL LEDYARD'S MONUMENT. 
Fig. 2, The original headstone. 





THE GROTON MONUMENT. 



The Battle of Groton Heights. 7 

these troops were formed jn line "under the lee of a rocky height 
one hundred and thirty yards south-east from the fort." From this 
place " a flag of truce " was dispatched demanding the immediate and 
unconditional surrender of the fortress. Their demand was refused 
as was also a second coupled with the threat that "if obliged to 
storm the works, martial law should be put in force." To this the 
instant response was returned, " We shali not surrender, let the con- 
sequences be what they may." In answer to this brave defiance 
the enemy at once pressed forward to the attack, " with a quick step 




ORIGINAL HEADSTONE AT COL. LEDYARD S GRAVE, 
AS AT PRESENT LEFT BY RELIC HUNTERS. 

in solid columns," eight hundred men against a hundred and fifty ! 
Yet this small band of patriots, animated by the justice of their 
cause and by the hope of promised reinforcements, prepared to offer 
their foes a brave and resolute resistance. " Col. Ledyard ordered 
his men to reserve their fire until the detachment which came up 
first had reached the proper distance." "When the word was given 
an eighteen pounder loaded with two bags of grape shot was opened 
upon them, and it was supposed that twenty men fell to the ground 
killed or wounded by that first discharge." "It cleared," said an 



8 The Battle of Groton Heights. 

eye-witness, "a wide space in their column." Their line now be- 
came so broken that the fields in every direction were " covered with 
scarlet-coated soldiers with trailed arms, in every variety of posture, 
bending, prostrate, dropping, half up, rushing forward, and still 
keeping a kind of order." Again they attempt the assault, in order 
to seize upon the south-west bastion of the fort, only to be met with 
the same deadly and persistent fire as before, while they bear from 
the field their commander. Col. Eyre, mortally wounded. 

At the same moment a still fiercer conflict is taking place on 
the north-east side of the fort. Major Montgomery having lead his 
soldiers in solid ranks through the abandoned redoubt, from whence 
rushing with " great fury " into the ditch below he seizes and holds it, 
and a moment later the rampart, defended by bent pickets and so 
high the soldiers could not scale it "without assisting each other." 
Nor was this all, for the Americans, unable to oppose the progress 




FAC-SIMILE OF COL. LEDYARD S HANDWRITING. 



of the besiegers, otherwise showered upon their heads "cold shot 
nine pounders and every variety of missile that could be seized 
upon." In the language of another, "the vigor of the attack and 
the defence were both admirable." At this point Major Montgomery 
was killed, and the fury of his troops was redoubled. 

At last, by sheer force of numbers, all opposing obstacles were 
overcome, and one of the gates being forced, the enemy rushed in 
like a flood, "swinging their caps and shouting like mad -men." 
Though the patriots had surrendered and thrown down their arms, 
their brutal adversaries continued to "fire upon them from the para- 
pets and to hew down " all whom they encountered as they hastened 
to "unbolt the southern gate." No sooner is this done than the 
voice of a British officer is heard demanding in stern tones : " Who 
commands this fort?" "I did, sir, but you do now," is the reply of 
the American Commander, at the same time presenting his sword in 
token of surrender. Seizing it, this military assasin, said to be a 



The Battle of Groton Heights. 9 

Major Brornfield, or Bloomfield, without a word, plunged it up to 
the hilt into the heart of his noble but too trusting foe. The attend- 
ant soldiers with their bayonets completed the bloody deed. Thus 
perished, in the forty-third year of his age, one of the most illustri- 
ous martyrs of American liberty. Like scenes were being enacted 
in other parts of the fort. "As the British marched in," says a recent 
historian, " company after company, they shot or bayoneted every 
American they saw standing." "Three platoons, each of ten or 
twelve men, fired in succession into the magazine amid the confused 
mass of living men, that had fled thither for shelter, the dying and 
the dead." The only reason, it would seem, that an explosion did 
not take place was the fact that the powder scattered about was too 
wet with human blood to ignite. So awful was the carnage and 
plunder that even the British officers could no longer endure the 
sight. One of them is said to have been seen rushing about every- 
where, with drawn sword, exclaiming : " Stop ! stop ! in the name 
of heaven, stop ! my soul can't bear it ! " Satiated with plunder and 
blood, the invaders finally began a hasty retreat from the place they 
had filled with so much of death and horror. 

Stripping the dead patriots, about eighty-four in number, parol- 
ing the most dangerously wounded, to the number of thirty-five, they 
drove the remaining thirty, "most of them wounded," before them 
as prisoners of war. But, brutal as they were they shrank from 
leaving them to their fate, that of being blown up with the fort (for 
a train of powder had already been set from the barracks to the 
magazine) the defenseless men whom they had just paroled. Gather- 
ing them together, therefore, with no gentle hand they fling them into 
an ammunition wagon. Fastening a chain about it, they dragged it 
a short distance down the hill, and then "darting aside" allowed it 
to rush madly downward with its freight of wounded and bleeding 
men, caring neither whether it was dashed to pieces upon the stones 
by the way, or engulfed in the river that flowed at the foot of the 
declivity, which no doubt would have been the case but for the trunk 
of an apple tree near the bottom of the descent, that proved a friendly 
obstacle. "For more than an hour" the sufferers in the wagon 
remained helpless and in great agony in the place where it had been 
arrested in its course. They were then carried into the house of 
Ensign Avery — one of their number — which was near by. (It is 
now occupied by Mr. Simeon Huntington). But help was near at 
hand. Good Doctor Joshua Downer, with his son Avery, was 
hastening to the assistance of the heroes, who needed it so greatly. 



lo The Battle of Groton Heights. 

In the morning he had perceived the smolce of burning New Lon- 
don, and at once started from his home in Preston for the scene of 
conflict. On his way to the Avery house, and possibly not far from 
it, he met and bound up the wounds of several of the slightly 
wounded patriots, and among them Mr. Benjamin Bill, and others. 
Upon the following morning Dr. Downer was joined in his work of 
mercy by a band of those noble women, of whom it is the proud 
wish of so many women in our day to be called the " Daughter." 
These ministered to the suffering patriots with the care and tender- 
ness which only a woman's hand can bestow and only a woman's 
heart can feel. Such is the picture of the battle of Groton Heights. 
May it remain engraved forever in our hearts ! 




Arnold's birthplace, Norwich town, conn. 



•^ 







List of Men that Fell at Fort Griswold, 

Whose names appear on the marble slab 

at the foot of the monument steps. 



WILLIAM 

Elijah Avery, 
Ebenezer Avery, 
Solomon Avery, 
Jasper Avery, 
Elisha Avery, 
Daniel Avery, 
David Avery, 
Chris. Avery, 
Thomas Avery, 
John P. Babcock, 
John Billings, 
Andrew Billings, 
Samuel Billings, 
Ezekiel Bailey, 
Andrew Baker, 
William Bolton, 
John Brown, 
Hubbard Burrows, 
Jonathan Butler, 
Frederick Chester, 
Eldredge Chester, 

CAPT 
David Seabury, 
John Stedman, 
Nathan Sholes, 
Thomas Starr, 
Nicholas Starr, 
Daniel Stanton, 
Henry Williams, 



LEDYARD, Lieut. Col. 
Daniel Chester, 
Richard Chapman, 
Philip Covil, 
Ellis Coit, 
James Comstock, 
William Comstock, 
John Clark, , 

Daniel Davis, 
Samuel Hill, 
Henry Halsey, 
John Holt, 
Rufus Hurlbutt, 
Nathan Adams, 
Simeon Allyn, 
Samuel Allyn, 
Benton Allyn, 
Moses Jones, 
Eliday Jones, 
Benoni Kenson, 
Barney Kenny, 
Thomas Lamb, 



Commanding. 

Youngs Ledyard 
Daniel Lester, 
John Lester, 
Jonas Lester, 
Wait Lester, 
Joseph Lewis, 
Joseph Mo.xley, 
Nathan Moore, 
Simeon Morgan, 
Edward Mills, 
Thomas Miner, 
Luke Perkins, 
Luke Perkins, Jr., 
Elinathan Perkins^ 
Elisha Perkins, 
Asa Perkins, 
Simeon Perkins, 
David Palmer, 
Peter Richards, 
Amos Stanton, 
Enoch Stanton, 



ADAM SHAPLEY, of Fort Trumbull. 



Thomas Williams, 
John Williams, 
Henr. Woodbridge, 
Chr. Woodbridge, 
John Whittlesey, 
Steph. Whittlesey, 
Sylv. Walworth 



Patrick Ward, 
Joseph Wedger, 
Benadam Allyn, 

Sambo Latham, 
Jordan Freeman. 



Return of Americans killed, ......... 84 

" " " wounded, ........ 40 

Total, 124 

British loss, killed, 4& 

" " wounded, .......... 127 

Total, 175 

Captain P. Richards, Lieutenant Chapman and several others were killed at 
Bastion ; Captain Shapley and others wounded. He died of his wounds in 
January following. 




The Monument View. 



North Window. — Thames River; Railroad Bridge; Odd Fellows' 
Home; Navy Yard; Montville; Salem; Ledyard; Brewsters 
Neck. 

East Window. — Mystic and Stonington; Old Avery House; Fort 
Hill; Lantern Hill; Mystic Island and Light-ship; Latimer 
Reef Light-house; Wicopesset Island; Watch Hill; Block 
Island; Point Judith; Gay Head. 

South Window. — Ledyard Cemetery; Fort Griswold House; East- 
ern Point; New London Light; Pequot House; Ocean Beach; 
Fishers Island; Long Island; Gardners Island; Plum Island; 
Montauk Point; Bartletts Reef Light-ship; Race Rock Light; 
North Dumpling Light; Gull Island Light. 

West Window. — City of New London and Harbor; Fort Trumbull; 
Water Tower; Old Town Mill; Cedar Grove Cemetery; 
Jordan; Niantic; Waterford; Lyme; Connecticut River; 
Pleasure Be^ch. 




Narrative of Rufus Avery, 

A Participant in the Battle of Groton Heights, taken 

from the Original Manuscript still in the 

hands of his descendants. 



A Very Graphic and Picturesque Story, 



I HAD charge of the garrison the night previous to the attack. 
The enemy had not yet appeared near us, nor did we expect 
them at this time more than ever ; but it is true "we know not 

what shall be on the morrow." About three o'clock in the 
morning, as soon as daylight appeared, so as I could look off, I 
saw the fleet in the harbor, a little distance below the light-house ; 
it consisted of thirty-two in number, ships, brigs, schooners and 
sloops. It may well be imagined that a shock of consternation, 
and a thrill of dread apprehension flashed over me. I immediately 
sent for Captain William Latham, who was captain of said fort, and 
who was near by. He came and saw the fleet, and sent notice to 
Colonel Ledyard, who was commander of the harbor and also of Forts 
Griswold and Trumbull. He ordered two large guns to be loaded with 
heavy charges of good powder, &c. Captain William Latham 
took charge of the one which was to be discharged from the north- 
east part of the fort, and I had to attend the other, on the west 
side, and thus we as speedily as possible prepared to give alarm to the 
vicinity, as was to be expected in case of danger, two guns being 
the specified signal for alarm in distress. But a difficulty now arose 
from having all our plans communicated by a traitor ! The enemy 
understood our signal was two regular guns, and they fired a third, 
which broke our alarm, and caused it to signify good news or a 
prize, and thus it was understood by our troops, and several com- 
panies which were lying back ready to come to our assistance in 
case of necessity were by this measure deterred from coming. 

The reader may well suppose, though time would not permit us 
to consider, or anticipate long, yet the sense of our helplessness 
without additional strength, and arms, was dreadful ; but the trying 



14 



Narrative of Rufus Avery. 



events of the few coming hours we had not known ! Colonel Led- 
yard now sent expresses from both forts, to call on every militia 
captain to hurry with their companies to the forts. But few came ; 
their excuse was, that it was but a false alarm, or for some trifling 
alarm. 

The enemy's boats now approached and landed eight hundred 
officers and men, some horses, carriages and cannon, on the Groton 
side of the river, about eight o'clock in the morning ; and another 
division on the New London side, below the light-house, consisting 
of about seven hundred officers and men. The army on Groton 
banks was divided into two divisions. Colonel Ayres* took com- 
mand of the division south-east of the forts, consisting of about 
half, sheltering them behind a ledge of rocks, about one hundred 
and thirty rods back. Major Montgomery with his division about 
one hundred and fifty rods from the fort, behind a high hill. The 
army on New London side of the river had better and more accom- 
modating land to march on than that on Groton side. As soon as 
their army had got opposite Fort Trumbull they divided, and one 
part proceeded to the city of New London, plundered and set fire 
to the shipping and buildings, the rest marched down to Fort 
Trumbull. Captain Adam Shapley, who commanded, seeing that 
he was likely to be overpowered by the enemy, spiked his cannon, 
and embarked on board the boats which had been prepared for him 
in case of necessity ; but the enemy were so quick upon him, that 
before he and his little handful of men could get out of the reach 
of their guns, seven men were badly wounded in the boats. The 
remaining one reached Fort Griswold, where, poor fellows, they 
met a mortal blow. 

Ayres and Montgomery got their army stationed about nine 
o'clock in the morning. When they appeared in sight we threw a 
number of shots among them, but they would immediately contrive 
to disappear behind their hills. About ten o'clock they sent a flag 
of truce to demand the surrender of the fort. When the flag was 
within about forty rods from the fort, we sent a musket ball in front 
of them, and brought them to a stand. Colonel Ledyard called a 
council of war, to ascertain the minds of his officers and friends 
about what was best to be done in this momentous hour, when 
every moment indicated a bloody and decisive battle. They all 
agreed in council to send a flag to them. They did so, choosing 
Captain Elijah Avery, Captain Amos Staunton, and Captain John 

*Eyre. 



Narrative of Riifits Avery. 15 

Williams, who went immediately to meet the British flag and re- 
ceive their demand, which was to give up the fort to them. The 
council was then inquired of what was to be done ? and the answer 
returned to the British flag was, that " the fort would not be given 
up to the British." The flag then returned to their division com- 
manded by Ayres, but soon returned to us again ; when about a 
proper distance our fl*ag met them and attended to their summons, 
and came back to inform Colonel Ledyard, that the enemy declared 
that " if they were obliged to take it by storm, they should put the 
Martial Law in full force," that is, "what they did not kill by ball 
they should put to death by sword and bayonet ! " Colonel Led- 
yard sent back the descisive answer, that " we should not give up 
the fort to them, let the consequences be what they would." 

While these flags were passing and repassing, we were exchang- 
ing shots with the British at Fort Trumbull, as they had got possess- 
ion of it before the battle commenced in action at Fort Griswold. 
We could throw our shot into Fort Trumbull without any difficulty, 
but the British could not cause theirs to enter Fort Griswold because 
they could not aim high enough. They had got possession and in 
use some of our best pieces and ammunition, which were left in Fort 
Trumbull when Captain Shapley left it and retreated. 

About eleven o'clock in the morning, when they perceived what 
we were about to do, they started with both their divisions. Colonel 
Ayres advancing with his in solid columns. As soon as they reached 
the level ground, and in a proper range, we saluted them with an 
eighteen pounder, then loaded with two bags of grape shot. Cap- 
tain Elias H. Halsey was the one who directed the guns and took 
aim at the enemy. He had long practised on board a privateer 
and manifested his skill at this time. I was at the gun with others 
when it was discharged into the British ranks, and it cleared a very 
wide space in their solid columns. It has been reported, by good 
authority, that about twenty were killed and wounded by that one 
discharge of grape shot. As soon as the column was broken by loss 
of men and officers, they were seen to scatter and trail arms, coming 
on with a quick step towards the fort, inclining to the west. We 
continued firing, but they advanced upon the south and west side 
of the fort. Colonel Ayres was mortally wounded. Major Mont- 
gomery now advanced with his division, coming on in solid columns, 
bearing around to the north, until they got east of the redoubt or 
battery, which was east of the fort, then marching with a quick step 
into the battery. Here we sent among them large and repeated 



1 6 Narrative of Rufus Avery. 

charges of grape shot, which destroyed a number, as we could 
perceive them thinned and broken. Then they started for the fort, 
a part of them in platoons, discharging their guns ; and some of the 
officers and men scattering, they came around on the east and north 
side of the fort. Here Major Montgomery fell, near the north-east 
part of the fort. We might suppose the loss of their commanders 
might have dismayed them, but they had proceeded so far, and the 
excitement and determination on slaughter was so great, they could 
not be prevented. As soon as their army had entirely surrounded 
the garrison, a man attempted to open the gates, but he lost his life 
in a moment before he could succeed There was hard fighting 
and shocking slaughter, and much blood spilt before another attempt 
was made to open the gates, which was at this time successful ; for 
our little number, which was only one hundred and fifty-five, officers 
and privates, (the most of them volunteers), were by this time over- 
powered. There was then no block house on the parade as there 
is now, so that the enemy had every chance to wound and kill 
every man. When they had overpowered us and driven us from 
our station at the breastwork into the fort, and Colonel Ledyard 
saw how few men he had remaining to fight with, he ceased resist- 
ance. They all left their posts and went on to the open parade in 
the fort, where the enemy had a fair opportunity to massacre us, as 
there were only six of us to an hundred of them ! This, this was a 
moment of indescribable misery ! We can fight with good hearts 
while hope and prospects of victory aid us ; but, after we have fought 
and bled, and availed nothing, to yield to be massacred by the boast- 
ing enemy, "tries men's hearts ! " Our ground was drenched with 
human gore; our wounded and dying could not have any attendance, 
while each man was almost hopeless of his own preservation ; but 
our country's danger caused the most acute anxiety. 

Now I saw the enemy mount the parapets like so many mad- 
men, all at once, seemingly. They swung their hats around, and 
then discharged their guns into the fort, and then those who had 
not fallen by ball they began to massacre with sword and bayonet. I 
was on the west side of the fort, with Captain Edward Latham and 
Mr. C. Latham, standing on the platform, and had a full view of 
the enemy's conduct. I had then a hole through my clothes by a 
ball, and a bayonet rent through my coat to my flesh. The enemy 
approached us, knocked down the two men I mentioned with the 
britch of their guns, and I expected had ended their lives, but they 
did not. By this time that division which had been commanded by 



Narrative of Rufus Avery. 17 

Montgomery, now under charge of Bloomfield, unbolted the other 
gates, marched into the fort and formed into a solid column. I at 
this moment left my station and went across the parade, towards the 
south end of the barracks. I noticed Colonel William Ledyard on 
the parade stepping towards the enemy and Bloomfield, gently rais- 
ing and lowering his sword as a token of bowing and submission ; 




RESIDENCE OF JAMES AVERY, ERECTED BY HIS ANCESTORS EIGHT 

GENERATIONS BACK, 1656. STILL IN A GOOD 

STATE OF PRESERVATION. 

he was about six feet from them when I turned my eyes off from 
him, and went up to the door of the barracks and looked at the 
enemy who were discharging their guns through the windows. It 
was but a moment that I had turned my eyes from Colonel Ledyard 
and saw him alive, and now I saw him weltering in his gore. Oh 
the hellish spite and madness of a man that will murder a reason- 
able and noble-hearted officer in the act of submitting and sur- 



1 8 Narrative of Rufiis Avery. 

rendering ! I can assure my countrymen that I felt the thrill of 
such a horrid deed, more than the honorable and martial-like war 
of months ! We are informed that the wretch who murdered him 
exclaimed, as he came near, "Who commands this fort?" Ledyard 
handsomely replied, "I did, but you do now; " at the same moment 
handing him his sword, which the unfeeling villain buried in his 
breast. The column continued marching towards the south end of 
the parade, and I could do no better than to go across the parade 
before them amid their fire. They discharged three platoons as I 
crossed before them at this time. I believe there were not less than 
five or six hundred of the British on the parade and in the fort. 
They killed and wounded every man they possibly could, and it was 
all done in less than two minutes ! I had nothing to expect but to 
drop with the rest ; one mad looking fellow put his bayonet to my 
side, swearing " by Jesus he would skipper me ! " I looked him 
earnestly in the face and eyes, and begged him to have mercy and 
spare my life ! I must say I believe God prevented him from kill- 
ing me, for he put his bayonet three times into me, and I seemed 
to be in his power, as well as Lieutenant Enoch Staunton, who was 
stabbed to the heart and fell at my feet at this time. I think no 
scene ever exceeded this for continued and barbarous massacre after 
surrender. There were two large doors to the magazine, which 
made a space wide enough to admit ten men to stand in one rank. 
There marched up a platoon of ten men just by where I stood, and 
at once discharged their guns into the magazine among our killed 
and wounded, and also among those who had escaped uninjured, 
and as soon as these had fired another platoon was ready, and im- 
mediately took their place when they fell back. At this moment 
Bloomfield came swiftly around the corner of the building, and rais- 
ing his sword with exceeding quickness exclaimed, "stop firing, or 
you will send us all to hell together ! " I was very near him when he 
spoke. He knew there must be much powder deposited and scat- 
tered about the magazine, and if they continued throwing in fire 
we should all be blown up. I think it must, before this, have been 
the case, had not the ground and every thing been wet with human 
blood. We trod in blood ! We trampeled under feet the limbs of 
our countrymen, our neighbors and dear kindred. Our ears were 
filled with the groans of the dying, when the more stunning sound 
of the artillery would give place to the death shrieks. After this 
they ceased killing and went to stripping, not only the dead, but 
the wounded and those who were not wounded. They then ordered 



Narrative of Ritfus Avery. 19 

us all who were able to march, to the north-east part of the parade, 
and those who could walk to help those who were wounded so bad 
as not to go of themselves. Mr. Samuel Edgcomb, Jr., and myself 
were ordered to carry out Ensign Charles Eldridge, who was shot 
through the knee joints ; he was a very large, heavy man, and with 
our fasting and violent exercise of the day, we were but ill able to 
do it, or more than to sustain our own weight ; but we had to sub- 
mit. We with all the prisoners were taken out upon the parade, 
about two rods from the fort, and ordered to sit down immediately 
or they would put their bayonets into us. 

The battle was now ended. It was about one o'clock in the 
afternoon, and since the hour of eight in the morning, what a scene 
of carnage, of anxiety, and of loss had we experienced. The enemy 
now began to take care of their dead and wounded. They took off 
six of the outer doors of the barracks, and with four men at each 
door, they brought in one man at a time. There were twenty-four 
men thus employed for two hours, as fast as they cquld walk. They 
deposited them on the west side of the parade, in the fort, where it 
was the most comfortable place, and screened from the hot sun 
which was pouring down upon us, aggravating our wounds, and 
causing many to faint and die who might have lived with good care. 
By my side lay two most worthy and excellent officers. Captain 
Youngs Ledyard and Captain N. Moore, in the agonies of death. 
Their heads rested on my thighs as I sat or lay there. They had 
their reason well and spoke. They asked for water. I could give 
them none, as I was to be thrust through if I got up. I asked the 
enemy, who were passing by us, to give us some water for my dying 
friends and for myself. As the well was near they granted this re- 
quest ; but even then I feared they would put something poison into 
it, that they might get us out of the way the sooner ; and they had 
said repeatedly that the last of us should die before the sun set ! 
Oh what revenge and inhumanity pervaded their steeled hearts ! 
They effected what was threatened in the summons, sent by the flag 
in the morning, to Colonel Ledyard, " That those who were not 
killed by the musket should be by the sword," &c. But I must 
think they became tired of human butchery, and so let us live. 
They kept us the ground, the garrison charged, till about two hours 
had been spent in taking care of their men, and then came and 
ordered every man of us that could walk to "rise up." Sentries 
were placed around with guns loaded and bayonets fixed, and orders 
given that every one who would not, in a moment, obey commands, 



20 Narrative of Rufus Avery. 

should be shot dead or run through ! I had to leave the two dying 
men who were resting on me, dropping their heads on the cold and 
hard ground, giving them one last and pitying look. Oh God, this 
was hard work. They both died that night. We marched down to 
the bank of the river so as to be ready to embark on board the 
British vessels. There were about thirty of us surrounded by sen- 
tries. Captain Bloomfield then came and took down the names of 
the prisoners who were able to march down with us. Where I sat I 
had a fair view of their movements. They were setting fire to the 
buildings, and bringing the plunder and laying it down near us. 
The sun was about half an hour high. I can never forget the 
whole appearance of all about me. New London was in flames. 
The inhabitants deserted their habitations to save life, which was 
more highly prized. Above and around us were our uiiburied dead 
and our dying friends. None to appeal to for sustenance in our 
exhausted state but a maddened enemy — not allowed to move a 
step or make any resistance, but with loss of life — and sitting to 
see the property of our neighbors consumed by fire, or the spoils of 
a triuniphing enemy ! , , 

Reader, but little can be described, while much is felt. There 
were still remaining, near the fort, a great number of the British who 
were getting ready to leave. They loaded up our large ammunition 
wagon that belonged to the fort with the wounded men that could not 
walk, and about twenty of the enemy drew it from the fort to the brow 
of the hill which leads down to the river. The declivity is very 
steep for the distance of thirty rods to the river. As soon as the 
wagon began to move down the hill, it pressed so hard against them 
that they found they were unable to hold it back, and jumped away 
from it as quick as possible, leaving it to thrash along down the hill 
with great speed, till the shafts struck a large apple-tree stump with 
a most violent crash, hurting the poor dying and wounded men in it 
in a most inhuman manner. Some of the wounded fell out and 
fainted away ; then a part of the company where I sat ran and 
brought the men and the wagon along. They by some means got 
the prisoners who were wounded badly into a house near by, be- 
longing to Ensign Ebenezer Avery, who was one of the wounded in 
the wagon. Before the prisoners were brought to the house the 
soldiers had set fire to it, but others put it out, and made use of it 
for this purpose. Captain Bloomfield paroled, to be left at home 
here, these wounded prisoners, and took Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq., 
as hostage for them, to see them forthcoming when called for. 



Narrative of Rufus Avery. 21 

Now the boats had come for us who could go on board the 
fleet. The officer spoke with a doleful and menacing tone, " Come, 
you rebels, go on board." This was a consummation of all I had seen 
or endured through the day. This wounded my feelings in a thrill- 
ing manner. After all my sufferings and toil, to add the pang of 
leaving my native land, my wife, my good neighbors, and probably 
to suffer still m.ore with cold and hunger, for already I had learned 
that I was with a cruel enemy. But I was in the hands of a higher 
power, over which no human being could hold superior control, and 
by God's preservation I am still alive, through all the hardships and 
dangers of the war, while almost every one about me, who shared 
the same, has met either a natural or an unnatural death. When 
we, the prisoners, went down to the shore to the boats, they would 
not bring them near, but kept them off where the water was knee 
deep to us, obliging us, weak and worn as we were, to wade to them. 
We were marched down in two ranks, one on each side of the boat. 
The officer spoke very harshly to us to " get aboard immediately." 
They rowed us down to an armed sloop, commanded by one Cap- 
tain Thomas, as they called him, a refugee tory, and he lay with his 
vessel within the fleet. As soon as we were on board they hurried 
us down into the hold of the sloop, where were their fires for cook- 
ing, and besides being very hot, it was filled with smoke. The 
hatchway was closed tight, so that we were near suffocated for want 
of air to breathe. We begged them to spare our lives, so they gave 
us some relief, by opening the hatchway and permitting us to come 
upon deck by two or three at a time, but not without sentries watch- 
ing us with gun and bayonet. We were now extremely exhausted 
and faint for want of food, when, after being on board twenty-four 
hours, they gave us a mess of hogs' brains — the hogs which they 
took on Groton Banks when they plundered there. After being on 
board Thomas's sloop nearly three days, with nothing to eat or 
drink that we could swallow, we began to feel as if a struggle must 
be made, in some way, to prolong our existence, which, after all our 
escapes, seemed still to be depending. In such a time we can know 
for a reality how strong is the love of life. In the room where we 
were confined were a great many weapons of war, and some of the 
prisoners whispered that we might make a prize of the sloop. This 
in some way was overheard, and got to the officer's ears, and now 
we were immediately put in a stronger place in the hold of the 
vessel; and they appeared so enraged that I was almost sure we 
should share a decisive fate, or suffer severely. Soon they com- 



22 Narrative of Rufus Avery. 

menced calling us, one by one, on deck. As I went up they seized 
me, tied my hands behind me with a strong rope-yarn, and drew it 
so tight that my shoulder-bones cracked, and almost touched each 
other. Then a boat came from a fourteen gun brig, commanded by 
one Steele. Into this boat I was ordered to get, without the use of 
my hands, over the sloop's bulwarks, which were all of three feet 
high, and then from these I had to fall, or throw myself into the 
boat. My distress of body and agitated feelings I can not describe; 
and no relief could be anticipated, but only forebodings of a more 
severe fate. A prisoner with an enemy, an enraged and revenge- 
ful enemy, is a place where I pray my reader may never come. They 
made us all lie down under the seats on which the man sat to row, 
and so we were conveyed to the brig; going on board we were 
ordered to stand in one rank by the gunwale, and in front of us was 
placed a spar within about a foot of each man. Here we stood, 
with a sentry to each of us, having orders to shoot or bayonet us if 
we attempted to stir out of our place. All this time we had nothing 
to eat or drink, and it rained and was very cold. We were detained 
in this position about two hours, when we had liberty to go about 
the main deck. Night approached, and we had no supper, nor any 
thing to lie upon but the wet deck. We were on board this brig 
about four days, and then were removed on board a ship com- 
manded by Captain Scott, who was very kind to the prisoners. He 
took me on to the quarter deck with him, and appeared to have the 
heart of a man. I should think he was about sixty years of age. 
I remained with him until I was exchanged. Captain Nathaniel 
Shaw came down to New York with the American flag, after me 
and four others, who were prisoners with me, and belonged to Fort 
Griswold, and who were brave and fine young men. General Mifflin 
went with the British flag to meet this American flag. I sailed with 
him about twenty miles. He asked me many questions, all of which 
I took caution how I answered, and gave him no information. I 
told him I was very sorry that he should come to destroy so many, 
many brave men, burn their property, distress so many families, and 
make such desolation. I did not think they could be said to be 
honorable in so doing. He said " we might thank our own country- 
men for it." I told him I had no thanks for him. I then asked the 
General if I might ask him a few questions. "As many as you 
please." I asked him how many of the army who made the attack 
upon New London and Groton were missing. As you, sir, are the 
commissary of the British army, 1 suppose you can tell. He rephed. 



Narrative of Riifus Avery. 



23 



"that by the returns there were two hundred and twenty odd miss- 
ing, but what had become of them he knew not." We advanced, 
and the flags met, and I was exchanged and permitted to return 
home. Here I close my narrative ; for, as I was requested, I have 
given a particular and unexaggerated account of that which I saw 
with mine own eyes. 

RUFUS AVERY, 
Orderly Sergeant under Captain William Latham. 





REF^ERENCES TO FORT GRISVVOLD. 



1. Magazine. 

2. Sallee-Port. 

3. A ditch leading to battery below. 

4. Embrazine where Major Montgomery fell. 

5. Barracks. 

6. Well. 

7. 8, 9. Points where the light companies of the 40th entered. 
ID. Guns that harrassed the enemy. 

II. Ravelin that covered the gate. 

F. A rock not cut away, which gives an entrance into the work. 

From E to F round the sides D, C and B the work is f raised. 

On the curtain A to the angle F was a barbette battery. 

H is at the southeast corner. 

F is at the southwest corner. 



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